Plural-spool spindle



Jan. 28, c s

PLURAL-SPOOL SPINDLE 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1 -IIIIII' Filed Dec. 7, 1962INVEN'TOR. Hubert Kocks Fig.1

AGENT Jan. 28, 1964 H. KocKs PLURAL-SPOOL SPINDLE Filed Dec. 7, 1962 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Hubert Kocks FigA United States Patent 3,119,224PLURAL-SPOOL SPINDLE Hubert Kocks, Rheine, Westphalia, Germany, assignorto Hamel Zwirnereiund Spinnereimaschinen G.m.b.H., Westphalia, Germany,a corporation of Germany Filed Dec. 7, H62, Ser. No. 243,114 Claimspriority, application Germany Dec. 20, 1961 12 Claims. (Cl. 57-5852) Thepresent invention relates to supply devices for twining and spinningapparatus of the type described in U.S. Patent No. 2,972,856, issuedFebruary 28, 1961, and co: pending application Ser. No. 211,301, filedJuly 20, 1962.

Heretofore, spinning and twining apparatus of this type were generallyprovided with a plurality of spools, each having a respective spindle,from which a thread, roving or sliver was unwound for subsequentblending or gathering into a yarn. The latter is twisted, generally withmany turns per unit length, although a preliminary twist may be impartedin the same or opposite direction prior to the main twisting operationas described in the aforementioned patent and application.

Other supply spools for the fiber filament or thread have been disposedgenerally coaxially as a space-saving arrangement. These constructions,however, had the disadvantage that the thread carried upon the lowerspool was forced to pass the upper spool and an outer wall of the spoolhousing thus requiring complex arrangements for guiding the thread aswell as special means for blending them together. It should be notedthat the term thread as used hereinafter is intended to refer to allelongated flexible members which can be blended by the aforementionedtwisting operation to produce a yarn or multi-thread member of increasedthickness, strength or density. Such threads include, in addition torovings and sliver, other animal and vegetable fibers as well assynthetic fibers and filaments.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a spool arrangementadapted to obviate the aforementioned disadvantages and afford improvedtwisting of threads in a simple and an inexpensive manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved twisting orspinning device incorporating such a supply-spool arrangement.

These objects are attained, in accordance with the invention, in aplural-spool supply device wherein a plurality of spools are disposedsubstantially coaxially upon a common support and a hollowthread-guiding spindle passes axially through the spools with annularclearance between the spindle and the superimposed spools. The threaddrawn from a lower spool thus passes through the clearance between aspool axially spaced therefrom along the spindle and the latter. Threadsfrom all of the spools can thus be drawn axially through the interior ofthe spindle to the spinning or twining devices which can include theusual fly frame, a high-speed driven traveler or other twisting meansdisposed axially beyond the tubular spindle in the direction of travelof the thread.

While the invention is described hereinafter with respect to avertical-spindle device, it should be noted that this disposition isgenerally arbitrary and other orientations of the spindle axes and thespools will be suitable as long as the spools are axially spaced alongthe spindle and one or more of the spools form an inner annularclearance therewith through which the thread of an adjacent spindle canpass. Advantageously a transversely extending guide plate is disposedbetween these adjacent spools and has a rounded edge forming an annulargap with the spindle which is aligned with the aforementioned clearance.This rounded edge thus constitutes guide means for the thread passingthrough the clearance and has a diameter less than that of the lowerspool.

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The guide plate, according to a more specific feature of the invention,is removable from the support to permit replacement of a spool disposedbehind this plate. In accordance with this principle a plurality of suchplates may be provided, in axially spaced relationship along thespindle, to define between them compartments for the spools. Each of theplates and, advantageously, the transversely extending base of thesupport, may be provided with axially extending annular flanges whichserve to hold the spools whose core or mandrel is, of course, tubular tofit over the respective flange. The core, of course, has an innerdiameter in excess of the outer diameter of the spindle so that theannular clearance between them extends over the entire length of thespool.

While it may be advantageous to enclose the coaxial coils in a generallycylindrical shell or housing, it is also possible to form the supportwith a lateral opening dimensioned to admit the spools. In the lattercase, the spindle may be provided with means for removably affixing itto the support whereby it can be withdrawn. Thus the transverse guideplates may, in this instance, be permanently emplaced. It should benoted that the aforementioned lateral opening may be provided within anotherwise cylindrical shell or between a plurality of angular spacedaxially extending support strips upon which the plates are mounted.

The above and other object features and advantages of the invention willbecome more readily apparent from the following description, referencebeing made to the appended drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is an axial-cross-sectional view, partly in elevation,illustrating a twisting mechanism embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional View drawn to reduced scale taken along theline IIII thereof;

FIG. 3 is an axial-cross-sectional view of a plural-spool supply deviceaccording to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing parts thereof in anotherposition; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view drawn to reduced scale, taken alongline V-V of FIG. 4.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing, there is shown a plural spoolarrangement wherein a cylindrical housing or support 6 has a base 6'which extends transversely to the axis of the housing and has a boss 24which a tubular spindle 3 is rigidly mounted. Base 6' is also providedwith a centering disc 25 whose axially extending annular flange 26 isadapted to fit into the interior of the core '4 of a spool 2' whosethread '1 passes into an annular clearance 27 between the core 4 of asecond spool 21 disposed thereabove. The spool 2 is carried by atransverse plate 5 which rests removably upon an in ternal rib 6 formedaannularly in the wall of shell 6. This plate is formed with a curvededge 5' surmunding the spindle 3 which serves to guide the thread 1'.The thread passes through this clearance into the interior of thespindle 3 over its curved reentrant edge 3. In addition, guide plate 5'is provided with an axially extending annular flange 5 serving to centerthe core 4 of spool 2 whose thread -1 blends with the thread 1' as theyboth pass into the interior of the spindle. The threads emerging fromthe spindle at its lower end are twisted by a conventional twistingmeans such as a fly frame of the type shown in U.S. Patent No. 2,260,229to Nutter et al. or a driven traveler 15 through which the threads passjointly. This traveler is shown to be guided upon a cirouiar track 14coaxial with the spindle 3 and having a T-shalped cross-section and tobe zdisplaceable by a radial arm 16 of a shaft 17 whose pulley 18 isdriven by the belt 19 from the drive pulley 20 of the motor 21. Itshould be noted, however, that other twisting or spinning meansconventional in the art may be employed. Upon emerging from the twistingmeans, the loosely or tightly entwined threads form a yarn 7 whichwhirls about the support 6 as it passes through an eye 8 to a take-upreel 9 which is rotated in the usual manner upon its shaft 19. Thespools may be changed simply by their removal from the plate or theremoval of this plate to expose the lower spool 2.

In FIGS. 3 through 5 are shown another arrangement wherein removal ofthe spools can be effected in a somewhat different manner. In thisembodiment the support 36 comprises a pair of axially extending strips36 which are diametrically oppositely located with respect to the axisof the spindle 33. Thus a lateral opening 40 is formed between thestrips through which the spools 32, 32 can be removed upon axialwithdrawal of spindle 3-3. To this end the latter is formed with athreaded extremity 33a which is removable from the complementarilythreaded boss 36" of the support. Plates 35, 35a for the spools 32 and32" may thus be rigid with the strips 36. It willbe readily apparentthat the spindle 33 need only be partially withdrawn in an axialdirection (FIG. 4) to enable the spools to be removed through thelateral openings formed between the strips. It should be noted that, inboth embodiments, the plates 5, 35 etc. can be provided with detentmeans releasable securing them with respect to the support while otherdetent means (e.g. balland-recess connections, bayonet couplings or thelike) can be formed between the spindle and the support to enable readyrelease of this spindle. Moreover, the plate 5 may be aflixed to housing6 if a sufficiently wide lateral opening is provided in the lowerportion thereof to enable removal of the core 4' prior to reinsertion ofspool 2' therein. The compartment formed between the plates 35 and 35ais generally representative of any number of such compartments that canbe formed in accordance with the invention. It is thus apparent thatmany modifications and variations are, consequently, deemed to beincluded within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A supply device for feeding a plurality of threads to a twiningmechanism, comprising a housing having an axis, said housing beingprovided with a base generally transverse to said axis and at least oneannular support plate axially spaced from said base while extendingtransversely to said axis; means in said housing for supporting a firstspool centrally on said base and a second spool centrally upon saidplate, said second spool having a central passage extending along saidcoaxially with said plate; a tubular spindle coaxial with said housingand extending axially through said passage with annular clearance fromsaid second spool and said plate; and guide means including an upperedge of said plate surrounding said spindle with clearance for guiding athread from said first spool through said clearance and into saidspindle, said spindle having a discharge aperture proximal to said basethrough which said thread emerges.

2. A supply device for feeding a plurality of threads to a twiningmechanism, comprising a housing having an axis, said housing beingprovided iwith a base generally transverse to said and at least oneannular support plate axially spaced from said base while extendingtransversely to said axis; means in said housing for supporting a firstspool centnally on said base and a second spool centrally upon saidplate, said second spool having a central passage extending along saidaxis coaxially with said plate; a tubular spindle coaxial with saidhousing and extending axially through said passage with annularclearance from said second spool and said plate; and guide meansincluding said plate surrounding said spindle for guiding a thread fromsaid first spool through said clearance and into said spindle, saidspindle having a discharge aperture proximal to said base through whichsaid thread emerges, said base and said plate being each provided with arespective axially extending annular flange engageable with therespective spools over only a fraction of their axial length forcentering them with respect to said spindle.

3. A supply device for feeding a plurality of threads to a twiningmechanism, comprising a housing having an axis, said housing beingprovided with a base generally transverse to said axis and at least oneannular support plate axially spaced from said base while extendingtransversely to said axis; means in said housing for supporting a firstspool centrally on said base and a second spool centrally upon saidplate, said second spool having a central passage extending along saidaxis coaxially with said plate; a tubular spindle coaxial with saidhousing and extending axially through said passage with annularclearance ifrom said second spool and said plate; and guide meansincluding said plate surrounding said spindle for guiding a thread fromsaid first spool through said clearance and into said spindle, saidspindle having a discharge aperture proximal to said base through whichsaid thread emerges, said housing being provided with at least oneinwardly extending formation, said plate removably resting upon saidformation.

4. A device as defined in claim 3 wherein said housing is of generallycylindrical configuration substantially surrounding said spools overtheir entire axial lengths.

5. A supply device for feeding .a plurality of threads to a twiningmechanism, comprising a housing having an axis, said housing beingprovided with a base generally transverse to said axis and at least oneannular support plate axially spaced from said base while extendingtransversely to said axis; means in said housing for supporting a firstspool centrally on said base and a second spool centnally upon saidplate, said second spool having a central passage extending along saidaxis coaxially with said plate; a tubular spindle coaxial with saidhousing and extending axially through said passage with annularclearance irom said second spool and said plate; and guide meansincluding said plate surrounding said spindle 'for guiding a thread fromsaid first spool through said clearance and into said spindle, saidspindle having a discharge aperture proximal to said base through whichsaid thread emerges, said housing being formed with at least one lateralopening adapted to pass said spools.

6. A device as-defined in claim 5 wherein said spindle is removablymounted upon said base and is capable of 'at least partial withdrawalfrom said housing in the gen erally axial direction to pass said spoolupon insertion thereof through said opening.

7. A device as defined in claim 6 wherein said housing includes aplurality of angularly spaced axial strips extending from said base anddefining said opening between them.

8. A device as defined in claim 7 wherein said plate is secured to saidstrips.

9. A supply device for feeding a plurality of threads to a twiningmechanism, comprising a housing having an axis, said housing beingprovided with a base generally transverse to said axis and at least oneannular support plate axially spaced from said base while extendingtransversely to said axis; means in said housing for supporting a firstspool centrally on said base and a second spool centrally upon saidplate, said second spool having a central passage extending along saidaxis coaxially with said plate; a tubular spindle coaxial with saidhousing and extending axially through said passage with annularclearance from said second spool and said plate; and guide meansincluding said plate surrounding said spindle for guiding a thread fromsaid first spool through said clearance and into said spindle, saidspindle having a discharge aperture proximal to said base through whichsaid thread emerges, said guide means including an edge of said plateconfronting said base and surrounding said spindle, said edge having adiameter less than substantially the diameter of said first spool.

10. In an apparatus for twining threads, in combination, a twiningmechanism rotatable about an axis, and a supply device for feeding aplurality of thread through said mechanism, said device comprising ahousing centered upon said axis and provided with support means for aplurality of axially spaced spools, at least one of said spools having acentral passage extending along said axis; a tubular spindle coaxialwith said housing and extending axially through said passage withannular clearance from said one of said spools while terminating at saidmechanism; and guide means at said clearance for guiding a thread fromanother of said spools adjacent said one of said spools through saidclearance and thereafter into said spindle together with a thread fromsaid one of said spools at an extremity of said spindle remote from saidtwining mechanism, said support means including an annular plateextending generally transversely to said axis and carrying said one ofsaid spools, said plate being formed with an axially extending flangefor centering said one of said spools with respect to said spindle.

11. A supply device for feeding a plurality of threads each derived froma respective spool to a twining mechanism and wherein said spools aredisposed coaxially one above the other and a tubular thread-guidingspindle passes axially through all of said spools, said spindle havingan inlet opening at one end thereof through which said threads are drawnfrom said spools through the interior of said spindle, said supplydevice comprising, in combination, a housing having a base generallytransverse to said thread-guiding spindle; a tubular supporting flangefor the one of said spools furthest from said inlet opening, said flangecoaxially surrounding said spindle and fixed to said base; and a furthertubular supporting flange for each of the others of said spools, each ofsaid further flanges coaxially surrounding said spindle wi-th annularclearance and being formed on a respective support plate extendingoutwardly therefrom and carried by said housing, said other flangeshaving rim-s at the respective plates axially spaced from an adjacentspool, the thread drawn from each of the spools remote from said inletopening passing upwardly through the annular clearance surrounding saidspindle at each of the other flanges interposed d between the respectivespool and the opening for combination at said opening with the threaddrawn from the spool proximal thereto.

12. A supply device for feeding a plurality of threads each derived froma respective spool to a twining mech anism and wherein said spools aredisposed coaxially one above the other and an upright tubularthread-guiding spindle passes axially through all of said spools, saidspindle having an inlet opening at the upper end thereof through whichsaid threads are drawn from said spools through the interior of saidspindle, said supply device comprising, in combination, a housing havinga base generally transverse to said thread-guiding spindle; a tubularsupporting flange for the lowermost one of said spools, said flangecoaxially surrounding said spindle and being fixed at the bottom to saidbase; and a further tubular supporting flange for each of the others ofsaid spools, each of said further flanges coaxially surrounding saidspindle with annular clearance and being fixed at a lower rim to arespective support plate extending outwardly therefrom and carried bysaid housing, the rims on each of the respective plates being axiallyspaced from the subjacent spool, the thread drawn from each lower one ofsaid spools passing upwardly through said annular clearance of eachoverlying spool and being combined at said opening with the thread drawnfrom the uppermost one of said spools.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,995,533 Bochmann et al Mar. 26, 1935 2,718,363 Roberts Sept. 20, 19552,826,035 Cogger Mar. 11, 1958 2,944,383 Lawrence et al July 12, 19603,029,587 Kresslein Apr. 17, 196-2 FOREIGN PATENTS 93,301 Austria June25, 1923 962,357 France Dec. 5, 1949 573,276 Germany Mar. 29, 1933

1. A SUPPLY DEVICE FOR FEEDING A PLURALITY OF THREADS TO A TWININGMECHANISM, COMPRISING A HOUSING HAVING AN AXIS, SAID HOUSING BEINGPROVIDED WITH A BASE GENERALLY TRANSVERSE TO SAID AXIS AND AT LEAST ONEANNULAR SUPPORT PLATE AXIALLY SPACED FROM SAID BASE WHILE EXTENDINGTRANSVERSELY TO SAID AXIS; MEANS IN SAID HOUSING FOR SUPPORTING A FIRSTSPOOL CENTRALLY ON SAID BASE AND A SECOND SPOOL CENTRALLY UPON SAIDPLATE, SAID SECOND SPOOL HAVING A CENTRAL PASSAGE EXTENDING ALONG SAIDAXIS COAXIALLY WITH SAID PLATE; A TUBULAR SPINDLE COAXIAL WITH SAIDHOUSING AND EXTENDING AXIALLY THROUGH SAID PASSAGE WITH ANNULARCLEARANCE FROM SAID SECOND SPOOL AND SAID PLATE; AND